Port Askaig 8 Year

Nose is lemon, sea salt and smoke Palate is sweet and cloying with plenty smoke Finish is medium with spice and yet more smoke The youth of the spirit is perceptible as is the ABV but as an Islay it would be a good starter as it’s not overly pungent or oily.

Burn! Slight Iodine taste

@wf19

Nose: the smoke is definitely not peaty, more like campfire but with a sweetness to it. Plaster, maybe? Palate: very light body. The smoke notes are again like campfire but not aggressive, with a mild dry sweetness to it, likely from the port. Finish: the campfire wood lingers for a moment without the sweetness.

Ok, this dram highlights the difference, for me, between reading a theological treatise, and diving into the world of the Legend of Zelda. Both, for me, are recreational activities. But one, I do to engage my brain and grapple with heavy ideas, and the other, I do to escape into a fantasy world where sure, there are challenges, but for the most part, I’m relaxing. Highland scotch is my happy place, my Hyrule. This scotch is G.K. Chesterton’s Orthodoxy. Meaty, in fact, I now understand what people mean when they say a whiskey reminds them of ham. I can taste ham in my dram. Definitely smoky, but smooth, and the campfire doesn’t linger super long. I’d call it a good “gateway Islay.” Enjoyable, but I still struggle with the genre.

No doubt it’s an Islay on the nose. It’s got that typical dangerous Islay pale gold color, which you know is a lie, because rather than a romantic date with the glass, you’re about to get smacked across the face by a fire pit. Much more flavorful than Lagavulin, as in, it actually has one. The subtleties are actually quite intriguing. The finish is smoky smooth, and you can definitely taste the peat. There’s also a bit of Sharpie thrown in there. Overall, a new favorite in terms of Islay scotches. Definitely need to try some of the older brothers though.

Very smoky